Tetenal Colortec C-41 Development Time And Agitation

Hi all,

I'm going to give C-41 a try and I was thus reviewing the instructions of the Tetenal Colortec C-41 Rapid Negative Kit. In the manual, the development time for rotary processing is given. However, as I don't have any processor, I'll do the development in a small Paterson tank. Therefor, I'm wondering if there is any influence on the development time and what would be an appropriate agitation. For black and white, I'm doing 4 inversion each 30 seconds. Should I keep it this way with listed time ?

I can't speak to Tetenal's C-41 specifically, but with the C-41 developers I've used (Paterson and a couple of home-brew recipes), I've used the same agitation regime as I use with B&W -- 30 seconds of continuous agitation followed by 5 seconds (about 5 inversions) every 30 seconds thereafter. The total developing time is 3:15. This works acceptably for me; however, I've done no scientific tests of density, color curves, etc. I do recall that when I first started with C-41 development, the procedure I found (perhaps online or with the Paterson chemicals) specified a slightly different agitation procedure than I'd been using with B&W. It wasn't very different, though, and I decided to stick with my usual B&W procedure so as not to overstuff my brain with too many different procedures. Unfortunately, I don't recall the precise procedure I found.

C41 developers should all use 3 minutes 15 seconds with a fresh/working solution. On the second and third rolls for each unit of solution you should increase time by 15 seconds each for 3:30 second roll and 3:45 third roll and then discard.

I use 30 seconds continuous and 4 lifts every 30 seconds thereafter, so yours works fine. I pour in the chemistry slightly warm to compensate for the loss over the initial 30 second agitation. I also use a pre soak to get the temp up. Temp doesn't appear to be as critical as said. I keep the water bath at 101-102 because according to my **highly** scientific tests this works about right with my agitation.

Tetenal don't give times for C41 but for E6 they recommend 15s agitation followed by further agitation every 15s. I used those recommendations for their C41 kit and my results were fine, so I suggest you do the same.

With C-41 having such a short development time, in addition to the every 15 second agitation cycle, you should be rather vigorous in your agitation. I agitate for the first 30 seconds continuously, then every 15 seconds.

Hi Jeff, I use this exact kit a few times a month and I do mine the same as black and white and get perfect results.

Every 1 minute I do 3 inversions for about 10-15 seconds in total.

I would advise against using the twiddle stick apart from the very first agitation after pouring in chemicals.. I had developing problems at the sprocket holes when I only used the twiddle stick instead of inversions.